In July, 2011, Malawi adopted Option B+, a test and treat approach for the Prevention of Mother-to-Child-Transmission of HIV (PMTCT). However, Ministry of Health did not provide detailed guidance for integration to effectively implement the new approach to PMTCT into existing health services delivery systems. For instance, in some facilities women are referred from ANC to ART for HIV services while in other facilities, women receive only one dose at ANC and follow up drugs are received at ART clinic
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In respect of this, Light House, Management Sciences for Health (MSH) and Research for Equity and Community Health (REACH) Trust through funding from WHO has embarked on a study to assess the feasibility, efficiency and effectiveness of the practices on delivery of Malawi’s Option B+ for PMTCT.

The study seeks to identify the most feasible, efficient and effective practices of delivering Malawi’s Option B+ for PMTCT, on the basis of existing service delivery (integration) practices. The objectives are to describe the different practices health facilities have chosen to implement option B+ across diverse health facility settings and compare health facilities that provide more effective services with those providing less effective services in relation to health service delivery practices. 28 health facilities that provide Option B+ services have been sampled from 16 districts across the country.

On 30th March, 2015, REACH Trust a lead player of the study organized a briefing workshop on the same at the Light House in Lilongwe with PMTCT and ART Coordinators from the sampled districts where the study will be implemented. The workshop was attended by 14 of the 16 ART and PMTCT coordinators that were invited from the study districts.

During the workshop, the Executive Director for REACH Trust Dr. Ireen Namankhoma highlighted that another workshop will be organized to analyze study results through which best practices of the Option B+ service provision will be identified for integration in the health system.